Two buildings have been beautifully restored and turned into apartments, and one building is wired and eagerly awaiting buyers interested in entire-floor apartments that they can build to suit for a few million dollars and $2K/mo or more in maintenance fees. Owners have been promised work on the other buildings will begin promptly -- as soon as the economy is a good little economy and remembers to take its uppers. Plans are set for restaurants, members' only bar, shopping, play areas...all they have to do is displace hundreds of people living in the projects next door; tear down the buildings that have housed some of Jersey City's worst drug offenders, and that have seen more shootings than you can shake a stolen gun at; pave and rebuild.
May I suggest a cleverly placed Starbucks or Crate&Barrel? They could call the newly reclaimed real estate Gentrifica. Yuppie Plaza. Perhaps create the mental image of our own nation within Jersey City: Nolongerafraidtoleavethebeaconcompoundonfoot-ia?
As it is, a lot of work and a lot of money is needed before this area's rep recovers from its terminally ill prognosis.
All the historical stuff aside, the first two times we viewed this place, all I could think of was The Shining. Apart from the guys at the front door and desk, we didn't see a single, solitary soul. Totally quiet, other than my flip-flops flip-flopping. I found out later they shot a Verizon TV commercial here spoofing the movie but raving about their coverage, which is pretty funny since I have Verizon and I get next to zero reception in the building.
Cam has learned to pedal his bike and I have found great joy in freaking out people in the halls ever since.
